Liverbirds Journal - Night at the Spottle Parlor

HOME | Campaign | Characters | People | Places | Things | Campaign Journal

Date 7/28/3518 - The 28th of Greenwake, Turn Day

Cast of Characters

Daar Na Tosh - Human Berserker

Kaz - Troll Swashbuckler

Aletta Poquette - Dwarf Sneak

Suzie Walnuts - Human Paladin of Isanna

Tahd Thurstenhill - Human Armsman

Verilyn Vickery- Elf Magician

Summary

Time passes. Business had an up-tick this week as the local news of their heroics spread in the dock area. The party was gifted the deed to a fishing boat, which generates a small monthly income of 8 royals. They received a court summons to appear on 8/15 regarding the Jerettier Estate. And now of all things, they were sent a special invitation to a private game of Spottle hosted by the infamous Bradbert Niss. Niss is a former thief, who was once notorious and wanted by the law, but also famous for his generous donations to the poor and orphanages, until the day he saved the life of a constable from local bandits. He has since retired, and if the rumors are true, hosts private gambling events for the City's elite!

Of course, there is a twist. They do enjoy an evening of gambling, but the special guest that they were told would show up at midnight was an unwelcome one - because it is more orcs!

NPC's Introduced

Bradbert Niss, former thief, underworld figure, and host of a regular high-stakes game of Spottle.

Longo Bolger & Bufred Shabbin, a pair of dwarf guard/attendants to Mr. Niss.

Vancin Vanslep, a priest from the Temple of Sails. 

Gergy d'Ambreville, a young uncouth aristocrat of the house d'Ambrevilles. Yes, those d'Ambrevilles.

Murdo Goddard, a portly spice merchant. 

Lord Guzz, apparently an orc chieftain who has it out for them. 

Marcy, a Spottle toad.

Locations Introduced

The Spottle Parlor (Bradbert Niss' Estate)

Session Notes

The party shows up in their finery for an evening of food, wine, and gambling in the private Spottle den. It is everything they were hoping for, although the other three guests seemed equally as odd as themselves. A down on his luck local priest trying to raise funds, a somewhat rude rich kid, and a fat old merchant who looked down his nose at all of them. Some of the gang made money, some lost money, but all bets were off when the underground doors opened at midnight and a band of orcs, including a thoul, showed up for some revenge. Nobody told them the odds, and they heroically killed the thoul and drove the orcs back before barring the door. Lord Guzz will have to wait a bit longer on that revenge. Aletta demonstrated some excellent thievery skills, they learned Gergy is a wereboar and ended up shaking Niss down for what just happened. They proved more convincing than his reticence to talk and learned he did a favor by inviting the list of guests to tonight's special game - and he had no idea who the guest of honor would be. The source of this list: none other than The Old Man of the City, a.k.a. Jak, a.k.a., a major player in the City's underworld. Unsure how they drew The Old Man's attention, they did what any reasonable businesspeople do - they sent him a request for audience. Audience granted.

Reputation

Kinsgbridge: 2

Kinsgbridge Dock Quarter: 3

Kingsbridge Underworld: 1

DM Notes

As presented, Spottle is a game similar to Blackjack. Played over 10 rounds, each player is only playing against the dealer. Each round they roll a die, then choose to raise or hold as the dealer rolls last. The goal is to get the highest number, without rolling a 17 or 18 on three dice, but beating the dealer who is allowed to roll a 17 or 18. The catch though is, after each set of rolls, there's a chance that the Spottle toad chained in the center of the table will eat one of the dice (they are all coated in fly dust, except for the dealer's dice). The adventure as presented has scripted rounds, but we played the game for real, with me rolling randomly to see if Marcy ate a die, and if so, whose die. It was a lot of silly fun, and two of my players gifted me a Marcy prop at our next session. Each of these adventures ties together, increasing their contacts and further developing the world. We now have a gambling game, more lore about the undercity (descriptions of how specific marks are used to navigate the tunnels and sewers), and the introduction of possibly the most enigmatic character in the city. I can't wait for next session! As a note, there have already been several references to tunnels below, but I am being very purposeful in not sending the party down there. They caught a glimpse of the sewers and a locked door in Challenge of Champions; there was another rusted shut door to below in the Jeretierre manor, and now here's another door connecting Niss's Spottle Parlor to below. In time dear heroes, in time.

References

At the Spottle Parlor by Rick Swan; Dungeon Magazine #12, 1988

Citbook V: Sideshow, Flying Buffalo, Inc., 1991